FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2021
Contacts: Jake Lewis
312-394-0867
CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF AFL-CIO PRESIDENT RICHARD TRUMKA
CHICAGO – Chicago Federation of Labor President Bob Reiter released the following statement regarding the news that AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka has passed away at 72:
“Rich Trumka was a dedicated unionist, a ferocious fighter for working people, and a beloved friend to so many. I met Rich over 11 years ago during my early days at the Chicago Federation of Labor. I was fortunate to spend a lot of time with Rich speaking to workers all over the Chicago area. It gave me an early opportunity to get to know him personally and learn from a leader firsthand how to carry the spirit of the American worker wherever I go. It was clear that he loved Chicago and its workers. He partnered with the CFL and local affiliates countless times throughout the course of his career to improve the lives of workers in Chicago and beyond. The entire Chicago labor movement mourns the devastating loss of President Trumka. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, the AFL-CIO, and the entire labor movement.”
###
The Chicago Federation of Labor is the third-largest central labor council of the AFL-CIO representing nearly 300 unions and labor organizations comprised of over half a million union members in Chicago and Cook County.